Eilat, Israel – The Israel Airports Authority has verified that a drone, which was launched in Yemen, hit the arrivals hall at Ramon Airport, which is situated near the Red Sea city of Eilat. The attack led to the temporary halt of all takeoffs and landings and attempts are being made to resume normal airport operations as soon as possible.
The Israeli military is examining the event, and it is confirmed that a drone shot in Yemen landed in the area of the airport. The event is being investigated, and the military is yet to give specific information on whether the drone was intercepted or it was a direct hit. The airport attack is preceded by a previous report by the Israeli military that the air force had intercepted three drones also launched by Yemen. That report claimed that two of the drones had been shot down before they could enter Israeli airspace, and the fate of the third was not discussed at the time.
Houthi Group Takes Responsibility of Attack
The Houthi group in Yemen has taken credit of the drone strike saying that it injured two individuals. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said that the drone, by the grace of Allah, struck the airport directly and led to the closure and suspension of air traffic at the airport. He also stated that the attack was a component of a larger drone strike on other targets in southern Israel. Saree also threatened to intensify attacks on Israel in defense of Palestinians in Gaza, and gave a warning to all air navigation companies, saying that airports within occupied Palestine were unsafe and would be constantly targeted.
Civilian Deaths, and Continuous Tensions
Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which cited Israeli rescue services, said that two individuals were lightly injured in the attack: a 63-year-old man who was shot in the leg with shrapnel and a 52-year-old woman who fell. They were evacuated to a hospital in Eilat by emergency workers and those who had panic attacks were treated on the spot.
A preliminary investigation, according to Israeli Army Radio, showed that the drone was not registered by the detection systems of the air force. The assault and the words of the Houthi group are the result of a sequence of growing tensions in the area. The Houthis have been firing missiles and drones at Israel in what they term as solidarity with Palestinians, and also targeting ships in the Red Sea. In response, Israel has been carrying out bombing operations on Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen, such as the strategic Hodeidah port. Such attacks have already killed high-ranking Houthi officials and civilians.
This episode is another escalation of the current conflict, which shows the regional consequences of the war in Gaza.
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